Cannabis use history is associated with increased prevalence of ascites among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed the endocannabinoid system as a potential therapeutic target in the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Cannabis use is associated with reduced risk for NAFLD, we hypothesized that cannabis use would be associated with less liver-related clinical complications in patients with NAFLD. AIM: To assess the effects of cannabis use on liver-related clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with NAFLD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective matched cohort study based on querying the 2014 National